Chapter
Fifteen:
Mute's
Folly
The city of Relenda sat in relative silence. In fact, it could have been mistaken as deserted. And there were those who thought that.
"Down there," whispered Matt, gazing at the city below.
He and Kailin were leading a group of Adepts who called themselves the Renegades. They were loyal only to Mute, and felt no connection to others of their order.
"I still don't think this is wise," muttered Kailin.
"Relax, everything's fine. Besides, Mute trusts me."
"Only because I agreed to come with you. He doesn't hold such a high view of you after Haldiar."
In a rage usually reserved for short-tempered Fire Adepts, Matt blasted out, sending a spear of earth at Kailin, who barely managed to dodge.
"That's another reason he doesn't trust you. If there are still troops down there, they will have noticed this. If we are to move in, do it now!"
Matt looked again at her silently.
"Right. Let's move out."
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Suliantig-General-Goraban, the officer in charge of Relenda's defense, notice the flashes of light that signified the heated argument between Matt and Kailin.
"Major Akula!" he called. "Alert Five, Sector Twelve. It looks like Afrin was right. Order defensive positions!"
"I see it! Adepts, by the lights!"
"Agreed. We'll need a squad down there, preferably led by a veteran of Anegon or Balecroft."
"No need, I'll do it myself," said Akula, rushing from the room.
Goraban moved next to the transmitter, coding the position of Chilaquand.
"Afrin, Patriarch Afrin, we have a problem!"
Algoshire's face came on the receiver as sounds of the raging battle filled the command room.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Tell Afrin he was right. We've spotted Adepts north of Relenda, and Major Akula was dispatched to handle the problem."
"Right. Tell us when the problem has been handled, General."
Goraban nodded.
"Relenda, out." The screen faded.
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Akula set up position near the northern cliffs, in a position the renegade Adepts wouldn't notice right away. He was able to track the descent of the group perfectly. He roared a command, and the specialized artillery under his command flashed to life, sending huge bursts of energy towards the Adepts, who were caught off-guard.
Matt was taken aback, but recovered fairly quickly.
"Move faster, they can't hit us if we outrun them!"
As the Adepts increased speed, Akula called off the artillery. Other troops stepped forward, and more Adepts fell prey to the marksmen of Defond and Origin. As the Adepts reached the ground, however, the scales again switched as furious survivors pulled off blasts of Psyenergy, which decimated Akula's ranks. Akula's next choice was, arguably, one of the best he ever made.
"Forward!" he cried. "Charge!"
Major Akula's contingent rushed straight at the Adepts in pure, unrestrained power. Most of the Adepts fell prey to the onslaught, while a few managed to survive, running back towards the cliffs.
Most military commanders would have called it victory and retired, but not Major Akula. He was a top-notch tactician, and his tactics were from the school of Frontain, as the devastating strategies that were pulled off during Dwindler's War were called. For Akula, victory was not merely sending an enemy back, but making it impossible for retaliation. He led the chase, downing Adepts left and right, until only a handful remained. At a command from Matt, they all teleported to the top of the cliff, where snipers picked off a few more before the retreat was out of sight.
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Back at the command post, Akula and Goraban related the entire incident to Patriarch Afrin.
"We have decided, Major Akula, that your exceptional tactics are batter served here at Chilaquand. General Goraban, further instructions will be given in a few days. Until then, I'm out."
Both officers nodded, then turned and looked at each other.
"I guess I should leave," Akula said.
"Why so formal, Akula? We're friends, and I will wait for what they say."
Akula smiled, laughed, and walked out of the room. Goraban turned to an aide.
"I need all officers here in an hour."
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Matt looked at Kailin. "Their leader was at Anegon. No other would have responded so quickly, and so fearlessly."
"Mute said that kind of Indosyne leader was nearly gone."
"Guess we found a straggler," said Matt. "It'll be harder next time."
"I agree."
